Editors note: This story has been updated to specify that the chief of staff position is no longer held by Misty McClure-Anderson.
In the mid-year budget proposal, The Vice President of Finance and Administration at Grand Rapids Community College, Lisa Freiburger, announced plans for GRCC to onboard two new counselors as well as another academic adviser to help support student needs on campus.
Freiburger informed the board that due to increases in enrollment, with the college seeing a 10.7% increase during the previous summer semester and a 3.1% increase in the fall, an additional $1,100,000.00 in revenue is available. Additionally, the college is estimating a $100,000 increase in grant revenue.
As a result of the increase in available revenue, $932,000 of expense adjustments were presented at the recent meeting.
Budget changes include adding two new aforementioned counselors to GRCC to help support the mental well-being of students on campus. Wages were reported to be $174,000 in addition to $86,000 in fringe expenses. An additional adviser will also be onboarded, receiving $87,000 in wages and $43,000 in fringe expenses.
Funding was also allocated to the chief of staff position. A wage increase of $80,000 and $20,000 in fringe expenses was allocated due to an “increase for change in position’s scope of duties and addition to the Executive Team,” according to the presentation.
“We’ve really focused on requests that have been made in the budget process as we continue to move forward, primarily trying to focus on our student needs (such as) counseling and advising,” Freiburger said.
Construction projects such as the Fordfield rec center renovations and the Learning and Resource Center renovations also saw an increase in funds of $2,500,000 and $1,500,000, respectively.
Freibugrer accredits the increase in available revenue to an increase in specifically out-of-district enrollment, saying, “the other thing we are seeing is some significant increases in our out-of-district numbers, so proportionately our out-of-district has increased more than our in-district, which is clogging our revenue chain up.”
Immediate changes were approved and Freiburger and her team will be presenting another budget amendment to the board in February.
In other news, Student Government president Alex Miranda, joined by treasurer Maria Choi, presented their final update of the calendar year.
Choi reported that at least 100 GRCC students registered to vote during voter registration events facilitated by student government.
“We’ve also hosted big events, such as Latin Heritage Month celebration and Lunch with Lepper. We had great attendance at both events, with more than 200 students attending each event,” Choi said of other events put on by student government this semester. “Many students have told us that they feel represented and seen with the Latin Heritage celebration, and students had an amazing time meeting and talking with President Lepper while eating lasagna.”
During the winter semester, student government plans to advocate for “student health and wellness, academic advising, GRCC diverse student body and more.”
At the first meeting back since the 2024 election, Chairperson Brandy Lovelady Mitchell congratulated trustee Sheryl Siegel on her re-election and announced the onboarding of new trustee Micah Perkins.
Likewise, trustee David Koetje’s term will be coming to an end in 2025. His fellow trustees shared parting words with him during his last meeting with the board.
“Trustee Koetje has seen more of a core presence in his term and has been a stable force for us, a wise, wise counsel. And so I’m so appreciative of the years of service and it has been a pleasure to know you,” Mitchell said.
Trustee Kenyatta Brame also vocalized his appreciation for Koetje’s tenure.
“You seem to always be encouraging people. You’re innovative, you’re empathetic, and you’re always open to new ideas, and as a chairperson, that’s something that’s important to have,” Brame said to Koetje. “You inspired the board through your leadership and motivated others to do their best work.”
Koetje received an engraved plaque as a token of appreciation for his work and shared his parting thoughts with those in attendance.
“Every month, an agenda of this board comes to your attention. The first page of that agenda is a picture of eight individuals. (If) you would take the time to check the resumes of each of the eight individuals, you would find that each of them spent their lifetime every day trying to make this community a better place,” Koetje said. “…We take that passion for making this community a better place, and we direct it toward this community’s college. Sometimes it’s messy, but it’s always honorable.”
The next board meeting will be held Feb. 17 at 4:15 p.m. in the board library.
